Characterization of three Aroclor mixtures using a new cyanobiphenyl stationary phase

The retention characteristics of all 209 polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) congeners were determined on a new p,p-cyanobiphenyl stationary phase using gas chromatography with electron capture detection (GC-ECD). Response factors were determined relative to decachlorobiphenyl, PCB 209. Several congeners that coelute on the phases routinely used for PCB analysis are separated on this phase, including the hexachlorobiphenyls 138, 163, and 164. The p,p-cyanobiphenyl stationary phase exhibits altered retention for planar congeners, such that the toxic coplanar PCBs 77, 126, and 169 are eluted free from interference. Of the 209 congeners, 61 were separated using the p,p-cyanobiphenyl phase in conjunction with GC-ECD. When analyzed by gas chromatography with mass selective detection (GC-MSD), the number of congeners determined increased to 133. Therefore GC-MSD was used with the p,p-cyanobiphenyl phase to characterize three PCB mixtures: Aroclor 1242, Aroclor 1254, and Aroclor 1260.     

Congener-specific identification of technical PCB mixtures by capillary gas chromatography on a n-octyl-methyl silicone phase (SB-Octyl 50) with electron capture- and mass-selective detection

Summary The technical PCB mixtures Aroclor 1242, Aroclor 1254 and Aroclor 1260 have been analyzed by capillary gas chromatography using the new methyl n-octylpolysiloxane phase (SB-Octyl 50) with electron capture- and mass-selective detection. The selectivity of this new stationary phase in the separation of PCB is superior to that of the methyl-polysiloxanes. A pronounced separation according to the out-of-plane orientation of the PCB congeners is observed.

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Kongeneren-spezifische Identifizierung der technischen PCB-Gemische durch HRGC/ECD und HRGC/MSD mit einer n-Octyl-methyl-silicon-Phase

     

Polychlorinated biphenyls,dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans in soil samples from airport areas of Croatia

Levels and patterns of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were studied in surface soil samples collected in the coastal part of Croatia within and surrounding four different airports and in the vicinity of two partially devastated electrical transformer stations. The compounds accumulated from air-dried soil samples by multiple ultrasonic extraction with an n-hexane?:?acetone 1?:?1 mixture were analysed by capillary gas chromatography with electron capture and ion-trap detection. PCBs were quantified against a standard Aroclor 1242/Aroclor 1260 mixture and a standard mixture of 17 individual PCB congeners (IUPAC No.: 28, 52, 60, 74, 101, 105, 114, 118, 123, 138, 153, 156, 157, 167, 170, 180, and 189). The mass fractions of total PCBs in 18 soil samples collected within the airport premises ranged from 3 to 41?327?µg/kg dry weight (dw) (median: 533?µg/kg?dw), and those in 21 samples collected at a distance ranging from several metres to 5?km away from the airport fence, from <1 to 39?µg/kg?dw (median: 5?µg/kg?dw). The highest PCB levels were determined in soils along the airport aprons where the aircrafts were serviced and refuelled. The PCB pattern was very similar to technical Aroclor 1260 in all airport soils. The PCB pattern in 22 soils collected in the vicinity of electrical transformer stations was dominated by congeners contained in Aroclor 1242. These soils contained 7 to >400?µg/kg?dw of total PCBs. One highly PCB-contaminated airport soil sample was analysed for polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) and dibenzofurans (PCDFs). With an international toxic equivalent (I-TEQ) of 9.7?ng/kg?dw, the airport soil contamination was within values typical for urban and rural areas, and the congener patterns gave no clear indication for PCBs as the only source of PCDDs/PCDFs.     

Comparison of two extraction methods for determination of PCBs and PCTs in mussels from Galicia

We compared two extraction methods for use in GC-ECD determination of polychlorinated bi- and terphenyl contaminants (PCBs and PCTs respectively) in mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis). Mussels spiked with standard PCB and PCT mixtures Aroclor 1260 and Aroclor 5460 were extracted with cold acetonitrile, or with 1:1 n-hexane/ dichloromethane in a Soxhlet extractor, which gave the better mean recoveries of 99.0 +/- 2.5% and 59.5 +/- 8.3% for PCBs and PCTs respectively.     

Simultaneous supercritical-fluid extraction of nine individual aliphatic hydrocarbons, aroclor 1260, aroclor 5460 and four PCB congeners from chicken liver

Summary Supercritical carbon dioxide fluid extraction (SFE) has been used for selective extraction of nine aliphatic hydrocarbons, Aroclor 1260, Aroclor 5460, and four PCB congeners from chicken liver. Alumina was used as adsorbent and methanol as modifier. Recoveries were between 53 and 100% for aliphatic hydrocarbons, 83 and 95% for Aroclor 1260 and Aroclor 5460, and 81 and 98% for PCB congeners.     

Improved Procedure for Single DB-XLB Column GC-MS-SIM Quantitation of PCB Congener Distributions and Characterization of Two Different Preparations Sold as “Aroclor 1254”

Complete PCB congener distributions in a panel of Aroclor mixtures were previously obtained by combining data from several HRGC systems. In that study quantitation of minor components may have been unreliable due to single level calibration against high levels of individual congener standards. Two lots of Aroclor 1254 had markedly different congener distributions. In this study, the design and performance of a congener-specific PCB analysis method employing GC-MS-SIM detection of congeners separated on a DB-XLB capillary column are discussed. Quantitation is carried out against a 6-level inclusive standard curve of a mixture of 144 congeners found in Aroclors. A separate procedure to measure trace levels of PCB 126 in Aroclors using the same system, combined with levels initially acquired for other congeners, facilitates estimation of TEQ values (Toxic Equivalencies of the PCB mixtures to 2,3,7,8-TCDD). PCB congener profiles of 15 Aroclor 1254 mixtures are presented. These profiles show that the less common, high TEQ variety of Aroclor 1254 was manufactured by an atypical, two-stage chlorination process that was apparently used during the final 1% of Aroclor 1254 production (ca. 1974–1976).     

Mass spectrometric study of the bromination of technical mixtures of polychlorinated biphenyls

The products of bromination of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) that constitute Trichlorobiphenyl and Sovol PCB technical mixtures were studied by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. On the basis of mass spectrometric data, the reaction was shown to result in formation of a mixture of poly(bromochloro)biphenyls containing from one to five bromine atoms and from two to six chlorine atoms in different combinations. It was found that the content of monobromo derivatives increases while the content of di-, tri-, and tetrabromo PCB derivatives decreases when the chlorination degree of the initial PCBs increases.     

Liquid chromatographic isolation of coplanar PCB congeners on an activated carbon stationary phase

A rapid and uncomplicated method for the fractionation of PCBs leading to an isolation of the highly toxic non-ortho substituted PCBs is described. The liquid chromatographic separation was achieved on a stationary phase consisting of activated carbon and Celite 545. Using eluents with different polarity, isolation of the non-ortho substituted PCBs in a single fraction was achieved. The fractions were analysed by GC/MS. The method was tested by the determination of non-ortho substituted PCBs in technical mixtures (Aroclor 1254 and Aroclor 1242). The results were compared with those obtained by using an HPLC fractionation on a porous graphitic carbon column. Finally, the micro-column fractionation was used for the determination of non-ortho substituted PCBs in native soil samples. Received: 5 March 1997 / Revised: 4 June 1997 / Accepted: 6 June 1997     

Enhanced comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatographic resolution of polychlorinated biphenyls on a non-polar polysiloxane and an ionic liquid column series

A total of 196 out of 209 polychlorobiphenyl (PCB) congeners were resolved using GC×GC-TOFMS with a non-polar/ionic liquid column series consisting of poly(50%-n-octyl-50%-methyl)siloxane and (1,12-di(tripropylphosphonium)dodecane bis(trifluoromethansulfonyl)amide) in the first and second dimension, respectively. It has been found that 13 PCB congeners overlap in five doublets (CB12+CB13, CB62+CB75, CB70+CB76, CB97+CB125 and CB153+CB168) and one triplet (CB90+CB101+CB113). All toxic, "dioxin like" congeners were separated with no interferences from any PCB congener. The 109 PCBs present in Aroclor 1242 and the 82 PCBs present in Aroclor 1260 were resolved GC×GC-TOFMS analysis on this column set.     

Use of a polar ionic liquid as second column for the comprehensive two-dimensional GC separation of PCBs

The orthogonality of three columns coupled in two series was studied for the congener specific comprehensive two-dimensional GC separation of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). A non-polar capillary column coated with poly(5%-phenyl–95%-methyl)siloxane was used as the first (¹D) column in both series. A polar capillary column coated with 70% cyanopropyl-polysilphenylene-siloxane or a capillary column coated with the ionic liquid 1,12-di(tripropylphosphonium)dodecane bis(trifluoromethane-sulfonyl)imide were used as the second (²D) columns. Nine multi-congener standard PCB solutions containing subsets of all native 209 PCBs, a mixture of 209 PCBs as well as Aroclor 1242 and 1260 formulations were used to study the orthogonality of both column series. Retention times of the corresponding PCB congeners on ¹D and ²D columns were used to construct retention time dependences (apex plots) for assessing orthogonality of both columns coupled in series. For a visual assessment of the peak density of PCBs congeners on a retention plane, 2D images were compared. The degree of orthogonality of both column series was, along the visual assessment of distribution of PCBs on the retention plane, evaluated also by Pearson's correlation coefficient, which was found by correlation of retention times t_R,i,2D and t_R,i,1D of corresponding PCB congeners on both column series. It was demonstrated that the apolar + ionic liquid column series is almost orthogonal both for the 2D separation of PCBs present in Aroclor 1242 and 1260 formulations as well as for the separation of all of 209 PCBs. All toxic, dioxin-like PCBs, with the exception of PCB 118 that overlaps with PCB 106, were resolved by the apolar/ionic liquid series while on the apolar/polar column series three toxic PCBs overlapped (105 + 127, 81 + 148 and 118 + 106).     

Reactivity features of polychlorobiphenyl congeners in the nucleophilic substitution reactions

Groups of congeners and individual congeners of polychlorobiphenyls contributing to the composition of the technical mixture “Sovol” (PCB 60, PCB 64, PCB 70, PCB 74, PCB 97, PCB 101, PCB 105, PCB 110, PCB 118, PCB 138, PCB 149, PCB 156, and PCB 163) were synthesized by the reaction of aryl-aryl coupling. The interaction of the congeners with sodium methoxide was performed and their complete conversion was proved. By means of gas chromatography-mass spectrometry the PCBs methoxy derivatives were identified. The data on the reactivity of the individual polychlorobiphenyl congeners were precised.     

Analysis of PCB by on-line coupled HPLC-HRGC

Summary On-line coupled HPLC-GC has been used for the fractionation and analysis of polychlorobiphenyls (PCB) according to their planarity. HPLC elution with porous graphitic carbon (PGC) as stationary phase, enables fractionation of PCB into classes according to the amount ofortho-substitution, which is related to congener toxicity. This is a preliminary step before GC analysis, which enables complete separation of PCB congeners according to vapour pressure. Conditions for HPLC-HRGC coupling were optimised, in particular the appropriate proper HPLC solvent was selected, because it determines eluent strength and selectivity and the transfer conditions. Different solvent were studied—n-hexane, dichloromethane, benzene, toluene, and their mixtures. Samples containing PCB standards and the commercial mixtures Aroclor 1242 and 1254 were analysed. Dichloromethane-n-hexane, 1:1, was selected as mobile phase for separation of poly-ortho from mono-ortho PCB; benzene-dichloromethane 30:70 resulted in the best separation of the most retained non-ortho-substituted PCB. Under these conditions the co-solvent trapping procedure, performed by adding 4% ethylbenzene as co-solvent, was used as transfer technique to overcome the drawback of losses of volatile congeners. Appropriate analysis conditions were successfully used to fractionate the technical PCB formulations Aroclor 1242 and 1254.     

Gas chromatographic separation of PCB and OCP by photocatalytic degradation

A photocatalytic degradation method was developed for polychlorobiphenyl (PCB) and organochloride pesticide (OCP) discrimination and quantification. A mixture of Aroclor 1260 and p,p′-DDT was irradiated at 254 nm by UV lamp (40 W) in the presence of TiO₂ (30 mg mL⁻¹ non-aqueous solution). Comparison of gas chromatograms showed that p,p′-DDT signals decreased significantly after irradiation, while Aroclor 1260s chromatograms did not show any difference before and after irradiation. Detection limits were 0.30 mg L⁻¹ and 0.15 mg L⁻¹ for p,p′-DDT and Aroclor 1260, respectively. The method was applied to spiked egg samples, the recoveries were found as 72% for DDT and 82.01% for Aroclor 1260.     

非等间隔PCBs保留指数体系在光解行为研究中的应用

利用Ｃｈｕ等已建立的多氯联苯（ＰＣＢｓ）非等间隔保留指数体系,由文献中的相对保留时间计算出全部２０９种ＰＣＢｓ同类物（Ｃｏｎｇｅｎｅｒ）的保留指数（ＩＰＣＢ）。利用ＩＰＣＢ结合ＧＣ－ＭＳ对ＰＣＢ８７、ＰＣＢ１３８和ＰＣＢ１６９三种同类物的光解产物进行了定性分析,发现其光解产物主要为低氯代联苯。实验结果证明,非等间隔保留指数体系ＩＰＣＢ在ＰＣＢｓ同类物的定性分析中具有准确、实用、快捷、方便等优点。     

Liquid chromatographic isolation of coplanar PCB congeners on an activated carbon stationary phase

A rapid and uncomplicated method for the fractionation of PCBs leading to an isolation of the highly toxic non-ortho substituted PCBs is described. The liquid chromatographic separation was achieved on a stationary phase consisting of activated carbon and Celite 545. Using eluents with different polarity, isolation of the non-ortho substituted PCBs in a single fraction was achieved. The fractions were analysed by GC/MS. The method was tested by the determination of non-ortho substituted PCBs in technical mixtures (Aroclor 1254 and Aroclor 1242). The results were compared with those obtained by using an HPLC fractionation on a porous graphitic carbon column. Finally, the micro-column fractionation was used for the determination of non-ortho substituted PCBs in native soil samples.     

Quantitative analysis of selected PCB congeners in marine matrix reference materials using a novel cyanobiphenyl stationary phase

A novel p,p-cyanobiphenyl stationary phase (p-cyanobiphenyl, p-allyloxy methylpolysiloxane) has been evaluated for the GC investigation of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). Several PCB congeners which coelute on the phases typically used for PCB analysis (e.g. 5% phenyl methylpolysiloxane) are separated on the p,p-cyanobiphenyl phase, including the hexachlorobiphenyl congeners PCB 163, PCB 164, and PCB 138. In this work, a p,p-cyanobiphenyl stationary phase was used to measure selected PCB congeners in two Standard Reference Materials (SRMs) available from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), and two Certified Reference Materials (CRMs) available from the Community Bureau of Reference (BCR). The materials analyzed were SRM 1588, Organics in Cod Liver Oil; SRM 1945, Organics in Whale Blubber; CRM 349, Chlorobiphenyls in Cod Liver Oil; and CRM 350, Chlorobiphenyls in Mackerel Oil. Concentrations are reported for several PCB congeners which coelute on the 5% phenyl methylpolysiloxane, including PCB 163 and PCB 164.     

Simultaneous determination of total polychlorinated biphenyl and dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) by dechlorination with Fe/Pd and Mg/Pd bimetallic particles and flame ionization detection gas chromatography

Simultaneous measurement of total dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT, technical mixture) and polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB-Aroclors 1248 and 1260) is facilitated by quantitative dechlorination to diphenylethane and biphenyl. The two-stage dechlorination reaction utilizes a palladium catalyst deposited onto iron and magnesium particles. The treatment has the advantage of converting the complex chromatographic pattern that arises from the multiple congeners and degradation products of PCB and DDT into peaks corresponding to their representative hydrocarbon skeletons. The limit for quantitative measurement (LOQ) using this treatment and GC-FID analysis is 40 parts-per-billion (ppb, μg/l) for Aroclor 1260 and 100 ppb for DDT with a linear response extending to 100 times the LOQ. The calibration was successfully tested with triplicate water samples fortified at 15 (DDT) and 10 (Aroclor 1260) times the LOQ. Accuracy (mean percent) and precision (percent relative standard deviation) were 92% and 6.2% for DDT and 96% and 5.2% for Aroclor 1260. Accuracy and RSD for 35 ppm triplicate spiked soil samples were 76% and 18% for Aroclor 1260 and 68% and 26% for DDT. These results are comparable to the published single laboratory results for EPA method 8082 ‘Polychlorinated Biphenyls by Gas Chromatography’. However, the single laboratory results for EPA method 8081A ‘Organohalide Pesticides by Gas Chromatography,’ failed to resolve DDT and therefore could not be compared with this method.     

Extractants for Organochlorine Insecticides and Polychlorinated Biphenyls from Water

A reversed liquid-liquid partition system prepared from Chromosorb W, n-undecane and Carbowax 4000 monostearate was shown to be suitable for extracting organochlorine insecticides and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) from water (with the exception of Aroclor 1260). The performances of the partition system, Amberlite XAD-4, porous poly- urethane foam and the solvent extraction technique when applied to the analysis of four environmental water samples were comparable (except for Aroclor 1260).     

Determination of 26 polychlorinated biphenyls congeners in soil samples using microwave-assisted extraction with open vessel and gas chromatography

A procedure focused on microwave-assisted extraction in open vessel (MAE-OV) and gas chromatography with electron capture detection (GC-ECD) was used for the determination of 26 congeners of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in soil samples. The limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ) were evaluated for commercial PCBs mixture Aroclor1260. LOD and LOQ were calculated for each PCB congener, in the ranges (0.03–0.27?ng?g^?1) and (0.11–0.70?ng?g^?1), respectively. After optimization, 26 PCBs congeners were successfully extracted from soil samples with recovery amounts ranging between 84.7% and 117.3% for all PCBs congeners. The evaluated method of MAE-OV showed good separation and extraction of all PCBs congeners from soil samples. Extraction parameters such as solvent choice, power and extraction time were investigated. This study indicated that MAE-OV could be an interesting alternative method to extract PCBs from soils, since it is economical, easy, fast and requires low amounts of solvents.     

Gas chromatographic separation of polychlorinated biphenyls on a new apolar capillary column

Eighty one polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and nineteen chlorinated pesticide standards have been analyzed on a newly developed apolar high resolution gas chromatography (HRGC) column. Emphasis was placed on the determination of PCB indicator congeners which are part of national regulations, and of toxic coplanar PCB congeners. The new column enables almost unambiguous quantification of the PCB indicator congeners (PCB 138 can be separated from both PCB 163 and PCB 164; PCB 28 and PCB 31 were also separated and no coelution was observed for PCB 52, PCB 118, and PCB 180). The new column furnished better results than CP-Sil 8 for the analysis of PCB indicator congeners in a sample of seal blubber.